Device for catching reptiles.



C. P. HOLMAN.

DEVICE FOR CATCHING REPTILES.

APPLICATION FILED mus. 1915.

1,148,587. Patented Aug. 3,1915.

CHHFZLES P HoLMfiN COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. \VASHIN c.

CHARLES P. HOLMAN, OF HORNERSVILLE, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR CATCH ING REPTILES.

Application filed January 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLEs P. HOLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hornersville, in the county of Dunklin and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Catching Reptiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a device for catching and holding reptiles of-that general species commonly known as Ohelom'a, and more particularly to that sub-division of this species recognized as the family Testuclz'm'dtc, or turtles, tortoises,-terrapins, and analogous reptiles-having shell backs.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a device forthe above purpose which is adapted to be manually manipulated and includes means for securely gripping and holding the turtle or tortoise and preventing its escape. I

Considered in its more specific aspect, the invention embodies a plurality of resilient gripping arms or fingers peculiarly formed for engaging around the edge of the shell back of the reptile, and simple and efiective means for holding the said fingers at their relatively fixed end in proper relation to each other and in connection with the end of a suitable pole or handle.

It is a further general object of the invention to provide a device of the above character which is exceedingly simple in its construction, strong, durable and serviceable in practical use, and may be manufactured at comparatively small cost. With the above and other objects in View, as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the several parts that I shall hereinafter more fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention in its preferred form and illustrating the use thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the device. Flg. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the resilient gripping or holding fingers.

Corresponding and like parts are referred Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Serial No. 3,989.

to in the following description and designated in all of the views of the accompanymg drawing by like reference characters.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and more patricularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, 5 designates a suitable pole or handle of the requisite length, one end of which is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 6, to receive a heavy ring or annulus 7 of rubber and fabric or other composition material of resilient nature.

8 designates a plurality of wire gripping prongs or fingers which are of the necessary strength and gage to prevent undue flection thereof, and these prongs at one of their .ends are extended longitudinally through the ring or annulus 7 and have their extremities bent outwardly and downwardly over the edge of said annulus, as indicated at 9, said bent ends of the wire fingers abut- .ting against the annular shoulder which is formed on the pole 5 by reducing the lower end thereof. Each of these resilient fingers volves thereon in the use of the device. I

preferably employ six of the gripping fingers or prongs which normally extend outwardly at an angle from the bracing ring 11. Each finger, adjacent to its free end, is bent inwardly to provide an offset 12 therein, the extremity of the finger being then reversely bent and extended outwardly, as shown at 13.

Assuming that the resilient ring or annulus 7 provided with the gripping fingers or prongs in the manner above stated, is engaged upon the reduced end of the pole or handle, the operator, in using the device, with a quick downward movement of the pole, forces the free ends of the ripping prongs or fingers upon the shell bac of the turtle or tortoise with considerable pres sure, so as to cause said fingers to spring outwardly until they ride over the edge of the reptiles back. The shoulders 12 formed upon the wire fingers engage under the edge of the shell and tightly grip upon the same. The operator then lifts the pole and consequently the turtle or tortoise which is held between the wire fingers, and in such manner the reptile may be conveniently carried to a box or other suitable receptacle.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use, and several advantages of my invention will be clearly and fully understood.

I have provided a very simple device for quickly catching and securing turtles, tortoises and-reptiles of analogous character, and for handling the same with facility and despatch. Difiiculty has frequently been experienced in restraining 0r confining such reptiles in ordinary traps. The arrangement of the gripping prongs or fingers may, of course, be varied to suit varying conditions and requirements incident to the peculiarities of the particular specie of Ohelom'a prevalent in the locality. The manner of attachment of these gripping or restraining fingers to the end of the pole or handle may also be somewhat modified, if desired, and it will, therefore, be understood that in putting the invention into practical use, I do not desire to be limited to the sev eral specific details above referred to, but reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may fairly be embodied within the spirit and scope of my invention as claimed. For instance, the outturned ends 16 of the spring fingers shown in Fig. 5 might bereversed, and the same engaged in the end of the pole or handle. The metal sleeve or ferrule could then be forced down over these inner ends of the spring fingers to securely hold same in connection with the pole.

What I claim, is:

1. A device of the character described including a circularly arranged series of resilient gripping fingers each provided adjacent one of its ends with a single eye or coil therein, a bracing element extending through the coils of the several gripping fingers, and terminal hooks formed upon the free ends of said gripping fingers.

2. A device of the character described, including a pole, a plurality of resilient gripping fingers, each provided with an eye adjacent one end, means connected to the latter ends of said fingers to detachably connect said fingers to one end of said pole, and a common bracing element inserted through the eyes of said fingers.

3. A device of the character described, including a pole having a reduced end, an elastic annulus, a plurality of gripping fingers extending longitudinally through the body of the annulus at one of their ends, said annulus being adapted for frictional engagement upon the reduced end of the pole, each of said fingers being provided with an eye adjacent to the annulus and also having an inwardly projecting'ofl'set formed on its free end, and a bracing ring common to all of said fingers engaged through the eyes thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. I-IOLMAN.

WVitnesses:

IV. E. BASSETT, E. O. MOORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. V 

